This post is pretty special to me. My journey to healthier choices began with the Oil Cleansing Method, which led me to researching Essential Oils, and ultimately to beginning this blog. It sounds trite, I know. But it’s true. If you haven’t tried it yet, you may be skeptical about whether oil cleansing is for you. I’m here to tell you everything I’ve learned about the Oil Cleansing Method by skin type.
Oil Cleansing Method
If you’ve never heard of oil cleansing, the basic idea is “like dissolves like”. You put a specific combination of oils on your wet face, massage it in like you would a cleanser, which dissolves any dirty oil and impurities already on your face, then replaces them with the clean oils. Believe it or not, but this is actually a great cleansing method for oily and acne prone skin because it breaks the cycle of stripping skin of it’s natural oils. But it can also work great with dry skin, sensitive skin, acne prone skin and even mature or wrinkled skin. The trick is you just need to know what oils and essential oils work best for you!
The basic recipe is one part castor oil, one part carrier oil (like apricot kernel, grapeseed, or jojoba), plus a few drops of essential oil boosters. Think of the castor oil as the cleansing agent. It breaks up and dissolves the sebum and impurities already on your skin. Then the carrier oil replaces the moisture that the castor oil removed. Finally, essential oils infuse your skin with concentrated complexion-loving ingredients. All highly customizable for your skin type. A great sample set of carrier oils can help you experiment without spending a bunch. Now for a couple handy dandy tables to help you choose the carrier oils and essential oils for YOUR skin type.
My Recipes
SO many options, right? Sheesh I know! Over the past three years, I have tweaked a recipe that is perfect for my skin. I have dry skin, like peeling dry skin. I also have hormonal acne, meaning I break out for about 5 days a month before my cycle, mostly around my nose and chin, but also on my chest too. As if dry acne weren’t complicated enough, I also have to worry about dark spots and wrinkles. Now you know why a store bought cleanser never worked for me. To save you a year (or more) of research, I have started offering four different oil cleansers- one for each skin type! I use my oil cleanser recipe for Sensitive/Mature Skin types in the winter and the one for Dry skin in the summer. But don’t worry, I have actually worked with others that have Normal/Combination skin and Oily/Acne-prone skin to develop recipes for them too!
Get the oil cleanser that is right for your skin type
Not sure which one will work best for you? Find YOUR Skin Type here
How To Use
How to use this oil as a cleanser, right? First off, you can do this in the shower or in the sink. Most of the directions you’ll find elsewhere are in the sink, BUT I prefer the shower. Anytime I try washing my face in the sink, it just makes a mess. You remember I’m messy, right?
Anyway, dampen your face with warm water. Pour out a quarter size amount of oil and massage on to your damp skin: face, neck and chest too if you like. Now crank up the water to HOT. Like ultra hot. Too hot to stand in the spray hot. Wet a washcloth and place on your skin for 30 seconds or until the washcloth cools, then wipe off. Rinse the towel and repeat. You’re basically steaming the oils into your skin. Keep with the cycle of steam, wipe, rinse until your face no longer feels oily to the touch. Depending on the oiliness of your skin, you may not need moisturizer after you get out of the shower. I always do. Also, you need to stick with a recipe for a couple weeks before giving up or switching around. You can expect some breakouts immediately after trying ANY new skin regimen, and this method is no exception. Give it a couple weeks and if you are still breaking out, consult the charts above again and substitute out one ingredient at a time. If you change it all at once, you don’t know what works and what doesn’t.
If you’re like me and the thought of a hot, steamy towel covering your entire face seems like water boarding, then do what I do. I fold the washcloth in half and put it first on the top half of my face, then wipe, rinse. Followed by repeating the process on the bottom half of my face, then the neck and chest. The idea is to have either your nose or mouth uncovered at all times to breathe. Yep, if you ever want me to spill all my secrets, a steamy washcloth will work.
So that’s it. The quick and dirty version of the oil cleansing method by skin type. So what’s your skin type? Tell me in the comments below and as always, feel free to ask me a question!
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Your article is full of great information!! I am new to OCM. I have very dry and flaking skin. I have just begun OCM with 1/4tsp castor oil, 1/2 tsp avacado oil, 1/4 tsp rosehip oil, 1/2tsp jojoba oil, then 3 drops each carrot seed and red raspberry leaf oil. I feel like I need moisture in the morning, think leathery alligator skin type of dry!! I still have some patches of flakey dryness as well, but I have only Oil Cleansed twice so I’m hoping that gets better with time. What do you suggest for morning moisture? I was planning to OCM three times per week at night, and wash with water and microfiber in between. I have been using jojoba oil in the mornings without much dryness relief. Please feel free to tweak any other part of my routine as well.
Hey Myshelle, I don’t think jojoba is going to give you the moisture you need. Try a mix of rosehip and avocado. And I’d rather see you put the carrot seed and raspberry in said moisturizer to use daily and stay on your son, than be partially washed down the drain. Feel free to email me through the contact page for more questions. I’d love to chat more.
Do you do this once or twice a day? If it’s once, is it best to do morning or night? I have started cleaning my face with honey, and really like it, but want to try the oil cleansing method too.
Thanks!
I recommend once a day at night.
Hey, thank you so much for this blog post!
I’ve been using OCM for about a week now, I used about 1/3 castor oil and 2/3 hemp seed oil, but my skin felt a bit dry so i made it 1/4 castor oil and 3/4 hemp seed.
My skin feels fine now after washing, but i notice my skin gets oily the next day pretty quick. My skin does look better, it just gets so shiny. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s too dry from too much castor oil and it wants to make up for it, or that it’s not drying enough and i should add more castor oil.. what do you think?
Thanks!
It takes at least 4 weeks for your skin to adjust to ocm. If it feels fine after washing, then stay the course for 4 weeks. Use blotting papers when you feel too shiny. If you’re still having this problem after 4 weeks, I would add a more moisturizing oil to your mix like avocado or apricot kernel oil.
Hi, thanks for all this info. If I was to use 500ml castor oil, 250ml of avocado oil, how many drops should I put in of lavender, geranium, argan and helichrysum please? Thanks again, Rhonda
Hi there Rhonda! So glad to have you as a reader. The answer is “it’s complicated” 😂, but I’m going to try to break it down for you. It REALLY depends on your skin. Oil cleansing is a bit of a trial and error to find your perfect combination. “Guess and check” always was my preferred method of algebra anyways.
First off, I would start with smaller batches. I’d hate for you to mix up close to 800ml for a batch that doesn’t work well for your skin type. So, let’s cut your recipe by half to a total closer to 400 ml. Then you want to put argan in the same category as avocado, because they are both carrier oils. So, that’s 250 ml of castor oil and a total of 150 ml of carrier oil, any combination of avocado and argan you like.
However, avocado and argan are both for dry or mature skin types (and the results for helichrysum, lavender and geranium essential oils are also in that category). If you in fact have dry or mature skin, a nearly 2:1 ratio of castor to carrier oils is going to result in VERY DRY skin. I would recommend more of a 3:1 carrier to castor oil ratio for that skin type. In other words, 250ml of any combination avocado and argan oil and 150 ml of castor oil. If you have a different skin type, email me through my contact page and we can discuss alternate carrier oils and ratios.
Now, for 400ml and a 1% dilution rate, you need up to 80 drops of any combination of essential oils. I personally half that to 40 drops because I find essential oils are quite powerful and is just as effective at 0.5% as at 1%. So for you, that would be 13 drops each of lavender, geranium, and helichrysum.
I hope that helps! Like I said, IT’S COMPLICATED. Feel free to email me through my contact page (see menu above) with any more questions. Wishing you a happy Wednesday!
Hi! Im currently on my 3rd week of ocm. Ive used 2 parts castor oil and 1 part sunflower seed oil since i have oily skin. So far so good though i noticed the breakouts. I read thag its normal and hopefully it dials down soon.
Quick questions though:
1. When can i start mixing up my oils? Im planning to add tea tree oil on my mix.
2. Is it safe to use diluted ACV as toner after cleansing?
3. What do i use to cleanse on nights i dont ocm, considering as i use light make up (mascara and eyebrow pencil) on a daily basis? Thank you!
You can add oils whenever you want really. I recommend giving a blend 4-6 weeks for your skin to adjust before you make a switch.
Yes, I have a recipe for a DIY AVC toner, which you can search for on this site.
If I’m looking for a quick easy clean (which is usually in the mornings for me), I use Acure’s fragrance free cleansing cloths, found at this affiliate link: http://amzn.to/2f1YtoN
Hello! Love this explanation on oil cleansing! I’ve been doing it for a few months now and am finally putting it into a blog post. Would you mind if I link your blog post?
Warmly,
Jessica Vogtman
Sure! I hope it helps your readers.
Hey! Thanks so much for the article. I wanted to know what the protocol is after a workout. I dance everyday and of course, after class I am extremely sweaty. Would I be oil cleansing after class or doing something else? Thank you!
Hey Brianna! I agree with you and would say at the gym is not a good place to oil cleanse. I would probably recommend removing any makeup before your workout with a cleansing cloth from Acure, found here: http://amzn.to/2f1YtoN
Then after workout, rinse your face in cool water to get the majority of the sweat and use another cleansing cloth followed by your favorite lightweight moisturizer. Great question!
I am soo overwhelmed by all of this haha
I’d love to give oil cleansing a shot, but I just don’t know what to use.
I have acne and oily skin during the day, but right after washing it feels very dry.
Any recommendations?
Hey Carina! It’s really easy to get overwhelmed with all the information out there. I’d love to help you personalize your clean skin routine, but without knowing exactly what you’re currently using, it’s tough. Check out all the recommendations I make specifically for oily and acne prone skin here: https://www.bloominginbedlam.com/what-is-my-skin-type/oily-acne-prone-skin/
If that doesn’t help, or you have more questions, feel free to shoot me an email through my contact page in the top bar.
Hello,My daughter picked up something similar in the store the other day that was close to ten dollars. I never even thought to make them for her instead!
Yes you can absolutely make it. But with muggy better quality ingredients. I make it to sell and it costs me more than $10 to make one bottle, even buying ingredients in bulk. I’m afraid she probably got a not great product.
Thank you so much for tbis post!! I’m about to order my oils now. I want to use castor oil and safflower oil with frankincense, geranium. How much of each would you suggest? Thanks in advance!
Hello I have been experimenting with different oil mixtures. Right now I am using hemp seed oil and avocado oil and I have lavender, orange blossom, and frankensense essential oils. I recently took out olive oil which usually makes my face look great but I started breaking out on my face. I’m scared to use castor oil because I have PCOS and already have a lot of facial hair.. but my question is how many drops
Of essential oil per one do I use for let’s say.. an 8 oz little bottle. Also my skin is combo, very oily, but also in some
Spots super dry and gross. I feel like
Giving up on the OCM but this is one of my
Passions is to make a brand with all natural oils one day. Also when I’m washing my face off with the cloth then do a toner of witch hazel on my face it’s never ending makeup coming off. How do I make sure I get all of the makeup off? I just need advice over all I guess. Also I was using apple cider vinegar toner but my cousin who is a holistic doctor told me NEVER use that on your skin because it is a acid even though it’s diluted so I guess I just need advice.. thank you so much.
Much love,
Mikayla
You need the castor oil. It’s what acts as the “soap” to get your makeup off. It doesn’t make your hair grow more side your just washing it back off instead of leaving it. If you have oily skin, avocado oil didn’t really belong in your mix. Try something lighter like apricot kernel or grapeseed oil. Aromatherapists recommend a 1-2% dilution rate for skin application of essential oils. Hope this helps. Thanks for reading!
Hi,
I have been experiencing pretty bad adult acne since I started school. I know stress is a big part of it but it is making me more stress than usual. 😊 I never suffered from bad acne only 1-2 pimples when it is the time of the month. Now, I have small acne bumps and bad dark spots from acne. Any suggestions for me? I want to try natural remedies and forget store brand products and hopefully it will work for me. I wanted to change my entire skin care regimen from cleanser, toner and moisturizer. Any recommendations?
i haven’t started the oil cleansing method because i have acne and acne scar and its very dry and thinking of using castor oil makes me scar for my skin to be drier. can i do oil cleansing method without castor oil ? and what are the best oil for dry acne prone skin?
thank you.
I just sent you an email.
I am a really low maintenance girl who spent most of her adult life not even wearing makeup. Suddenly I have developed this new hobby of making my own skin care products. My husband doesn’t know what to think of his wife becoming suddenly so obsessed. I think it must be a combination of realizing I’m nearly 40 and a general interest in natural remedies that I’ve had for years that I just never thought to apply to my face until now. It’s funny because even he is starting to ask me to make stuff for him now.
I am amazed at how much bad information is floating around out there as common advice that is actually horrible for your skin. Even from people who have been DYI-ing for years and clearly know a lot. Thank you for this informative post.
Thanks for sharing this! I made my own blend but do have a question: it did not seem to lather/emulsify as much with water as store bought oil cleansers…is that to be expected and is it still working? Also, how much oil do you usually use at one time? Thank you!!
Yes it is absolutely still working. The whole point of oil cleansing is because it doesn’t lather and strip your skin. Store bought ones that lather likely have mineral oil or a sulfate in them (yuck).
Hi, do you need to put toner on your face after the oil washing method?
If yes which one do you recommend?
Thanks,
You certainly can if you wish. Here is my toner recipe: https://www.bloominginbedlam.com/p891/
If you use a toner, you’ll need to definitely use a moisturizer after like more oil. Argan oil is what I use.
Very informative post. I love to use oils on my face very much. They made my skin’s appearance a lot better.
I am new to Oct and have a few questions…
Do you need to do more than daily in the cooler, windy weather?
Do you need to use caster oil or can you omit ?
Hi Tammy, I only do it once a day during my night time shower. In the morning, I either spritz with a toner or splash with water, then moisturize and treat. I would not omit the castor oil unless you have the most extreme of dry skin or there. Castor oil is what does the actual “cleansing” in the recipe. The other oils are meant to balance and nourish skin, but it needs to be clean too. I hope that answers your questions. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you’ll come back soon if you have any other questions!
I just started the oil cleansing method because I have severe acne that I can’t get rid of, I’ve tried just about everything. Right now I’m using 2 parts organic extra virgin olive oil to 1 part castor oil. Would you recommend the apricot kernel oil or the sea buckthorn over the olive oil? I have dry to normal acne prone skin if that makes a difference. Also how many times a day can I cleanse? I’ve been doing it just at night but in the mornings my face is so stinking dry after a shower and I need a moisture boost. Can I just put another oil on in the morning for a moisturizer? Thank you in advance!
Hi Taylor, I would definitely switch the olive oil to apricot kernel oil. Olive oil can just be way too heavy and clog pores. I just do it at night like you and in the morning, you can certainly use a light oil as an additional moisturizer right after your shower. I would recommend organic Argan oil since it sinks in nicely and sits well under makeup. Put a little melaleuca essential oil (tea tree oil) on each blemish and see if that helps. Give all the changes able a month to sort through your skin before trying something else. If you still feel dry, made change your ratio to three parts apricot and 1 part castor oil, or add some avocado oil. And always feel free to come back and ask more questions. I hope this helps you. Thanks for reading!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will switch out the olive oil ASAP and get some argan/avocado oil for a moisturizer. I will definitely be coming back here if I have any more questions, thanks again!
Hello,
I was wondering if you could help me with my oil recipe?
I have done hours of research on OCM, astringent oils, natural vs essential oils…etc. Anyways I’ve narrowed my research down to the oils i like the most based on the benefits I want.
Natural oils…Hemp seed,Avocado,Sweet Almond and Jojoba
Essential oil…Bergamot
And the Astringent would be Hazelnut oil instead of Castor, only because of the great for hair growth hype, I already fight with the occasional facial hair battle LOL!
Thank you so much for your time, knowledge and help! :)
I have facial hair issues and have not seen an increase since starting ocm with castor oil. I personally love avocado and almond oil. I would not use bergamot at all on my face as it is photosensitive. That means it greatly increases your skin’s vulnerability to the sun. You may not see the burn, but we all know the danger of overexposure to the sun.
Thank you so much for saving me from getting the Bergamot. I chose it last minute and didn’t look into it as deeply as I normally do.
I know you can’t give too much advice under the FDA rules, but are you able to tweak and critique someones ratios/recipe? I have oily skin and from what i understand a 1:3 ratio should be used.
1 1/2 Tbsp Castor oil
1 tbsp Avocado oil
1 tbsp Hemp seed oil
1/2 tbsp Sweet Almond oil
1 tbsp Jojoba oil
5 drops Lavender oil
Thank you again!
I have rosacea. A lot of redness on my cheeks and my nose is kind of purplish in color. I need some help. PLEASE! I am 60 yo. Skin kind of on the dry side. The only kind of soap that I have been able to use is Aubrey organics rose mosqueta bar soap and they quit making it. Just now getting into EOs and am willing to try anything that might help with my face.
Hi Shelia, I’m so sorry. But the FDA has rules that prevent me from suggesting ways to cure or improve medical conditions like rosacea. The only real thing I can suggest to you is looking at the ingredients in the soap that worked and experimenting with your own formulation. I will say I’m surprised that any soap worked. Soap can be very dying and irritating, which is why I stopped using it and moved to the oil cleansing method. I’m so sorry again that I can’t give more help than that, but my hands are tied by the government.
I’m not asking you for a cure or how to treat my condition. All I want to know is which oils to use so as not to aggravate my skin. As for the soap, I do not have a container to get ingredients off of. Thank you.
I know it’s silly. I understand the distinction, but the fda does not. The Fda reads “I have this medical condition. What won’t aggravate it?” Followed by “Try x, y & z” as medical advice and me calling essential oils a drug. It’s ridiculous, but I could get in a bunch of trouble for recommendations in this case. I’m so sorry. The best I can tell you is I have very dry and sensitive skin and the recipe I use is just above in the post. Sorry again. I really wish I could help you more.
I have been cleaning my face with oil for several years now. I started with a product I purchased, but after reading the ingredients and doing a little online research I made my own with castor oil and extra virgin olive oil. It’s much less expensive than what I was paying before, and i just use the same pump bottle i had with the purchased product. It completely dissolves all makeup and leaves my dryish skin feeling soft and smooth. I like the way you have figured out the different oils and essential oils for different skin types, so I will be trying out some new blends. It is a terrific system, and I highly recommend it. Thanks so much!
Thanks Lea! Happy experimenting!
Hi, i was wondering , i make a 4 oz bottle of safflower and sunflower oil…how many drops of essential oils would you add? last time i did 2 oils, maybe 4 drops each and i dont think it worked cleaning my skin! thanks sooo much!
I usually use about 10 drops per one ounce. Be sure to add some castor oil to your mixture. That is what does the actual cleansing. Happy oiling and thanks for reading!
thank you…and can you mix more than 3 essential oils together? like i want to do lavendar, tea tree, hylichium (sp?) and ylang ylang….would i do less of a certain one in my 4 oz bottle? sorry…does that make sense?? :)
That should be fine.
Hi! Thank you SO much for this post. I am awful about washing my face, but I’ve got to start doing better since I’m only 21 and don’t want to look like I’m 40 in a couple of years ha! I love my essential oils, so I am super pumped to try this out. Couple of random questions:
1. Where did you find that bottle?!
2. How in the world do you do this in the shower if the water has to be scorching hot?!
Thanks!! Ps I think you should do a video tutorial on how to do this..you could become a YouTube sensation! ;)
maggie
Lol! I’ve actually had several people tell me I need to do YouTube. Is just not my style. I’d be a deer in headlights the whole time. I get most of my bottles from amazon or world market. When it’s time to rinse with ultra hot water, I move the shower head so the spray doesn’t hit me then crank it up! Thanks for reading!
How long do these bottles last? (Your affiliate links for making the oil cleanse) Seems like a $40 investment for just the bottles off of amazon, so I was wondering how long it lasts! :)
Are you talking about the various carrier oils (apricot, castor, vitamin e, etc.)? If so, then at least a year if you don’t use them for anything else. I use them for making lotions, face serums, body wash and pretty much all of my other skin care, so I go through them much quicker.
Last question, I swear!! Even with the Essential Oils used this is still safe to remove eye makeup in the process, right?
Sure. The essential oils are quite diluted, but use the same precautions you would use with anything you get in your eyes. Flush your eyes for several minutes. But instead of using water, use more carrier oil or milk. I would recommend the milk.
This might sound completely stupid but honestly I don’t know how to tell what my skin type is. It feels dry then I wash it at night and then exfoliate and use toner then I add moisturizer which makes it feel kind of greasy. I wash it in the morning and it feels dry and like my skin is stretched, but by afternoon my nose is all shiny from oils.
You probably have combination skin, but it’s hard to tell because your skin is sick in a cycle where your cleanser is stripping your skin of it’s natural oils (why your skin feels tight right after washing). Then your skin works overtime to replace those oils (why you feel greasy later in the day). That is exactly what makes the OCM so awesome because it doesn’t strip your skin and you keep your natural oils. :)
Thanks for the prompt reply! Thats very helpful. What oils would you recommend I use to make the face wash?
I would say start with the recipe I put in the post and use it for a full 30 days at least before you decide to adjust it if you need to according to your actual skin type (once you know it) based on the tables. That will give your skin enough time to adjust to not having to work overtime making too much oil. Stick with it even if it seems like your skin is getting worse at first. Also keep in mind most women tend to breakout right before your cycle. I certainly do.
Hello! So first of all let me say how excited I am to have found your article! I have struggled for YEARS with my skin, and I would love some advice/guidance on what oils you would recommend for me.
So, my skin is very acne prone and I have struggled with breakouts since I was a teenager. I am 23 now and I live in Ohio and I have been through proactive, antibiotics, accutane twice, sephora products, drugstore products etc… I have ALWAYS been oily, but around August of last year my skin became VERY dry and has stayed pretty dry since. The only time it has been oily is when I have traveled to Brazil, but when I return to the states it goes back to dry.
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to use the oil cleansing method in my skincare routine since I eat healthy I would love to use natural skincare as well! I really appreciate you and your post and I’m so excited to see where this takes me! Thank you again!
Hi,
Bit behind on this oil cleansing method but I am really intrigued to try it. :)
I have acne mainly around my mouth and jaw line. Other than that I do not have any other problems with my skin. I’ve read in alot of blogs to use castor oil, jojoba oil and tea tree oil. Is this also what you would recommend? And if so how much of each should I be using?
I was just wondering, I’ve seen you just use this at night, so what do you do in the morning? I like to cleanse tone and moisturise morning and night. Maybe this is my problem.
Also should I carry on using my toner and moisturiser after cleansing with oil or do I just do this?
Thanks
Thanks for sharing your recipes and your skin challenges. I think that I have the exact.same.skin. I have spent tons of money on a variety of products that don’t do anything. Recently, the summer heat caused sweating which dropped my old moisturizer into my eyes which caused a horrible reaction. I have broken out in a full body rash from scented soaps at hotels or family. My skin is so sensitive to chemicals. I am so excited to try this regimen!
I made my first batch of oil cleaning and the dark spot toner as well. Next on the agenda is the eye cream. I will let you know how it goes.
I hope it works as well for you as it has for me!
It sounds like I share the same exact skin troubles. I have read through this post numerous times and can not find the recipe! Am I missing it?!
Hi Jackie, I provide a very basic recipe of one part castor oil, one part carrier oil, plus essential oil boosters right above the carrier oil and essential oil tables. The tables should help you choose which ones are right for your needs. To save you a bunch of time experimenting, I have started selling four different oil cleanser recipes- one for each of the major skin types- which you can find in my shop, here: https://www.bloominginbedlam.com/product-category/skin-care/oil-cleansing/
I am loving your blog! I am preparing to do a Make & Take class using essential oils and I was wondering what size of glass bottle you are using? In general, for you recipes what size would be a safe bet to use?
Thank you! I use all different size bottles. I typically end up making a big batch and then storing it in 1 oz amber glass bottles with pumps so it takes up less room in my shower. Thanks for reading and good luck with your class!
I too am new with this process. I recently moved from a very humid environment (an island) to an extremely dry environment (high desert). I am lucky that I don’t have too many breakouts with acne. My areas I would like to focus is on is the dryness in my skin and also the wrinkles… I’m about to turn 40! My question is what do you recommend for my first concoction to try?
Thanks you!!
Kristi
I live in a very dry climate too, at least during the winter and have extreme dry skin to boot. I would recommend you start with the exact recipe I use in this post. You can leave out the ylang ylang if you want, but it’s great for hormone support as you age.
Hello!
Help!:) I’ve tried the OCM for about a month now. I have dry skin with acne and I’ve tried an olive oil/castor oil combination and also a avocado oil/castor oil combination. Both haven’t made the acne better! I feel more hydrated, but I have cysts and red bumps and it’s oh so embarrassing. I thought I’d try the apricot kernel oil with a very small amount of castor and maybe a drop of lavender or tea tree? Can you help? I don’t want to go back to a soap because I feel convinced that my face with get better.
Thanks for your time!
Honestly, I would recommend starting with the oil recipe I have listed. It sounds like you have very similar skin to what I have. Then after cleansing, you should put a couple drops of melaleuca (tea tree) on a q-tip and dab it on your blemishes. I would completely avoid olive oil if I were you. You also need to stick with a single recipe for at least a month before switching to see how it reacts with all of your hormone fluctuations. Good luck and thanks for reading!
Hello! I just found your blog today and I’m pretty new to this whole OCM. I haven’t tried it yet (will soon! I’m persuaded enough!) but I had a few questions if you don’t mind. So if I’m correct, this is both a makeup remover and a facial cleanser all on one, right? Is it safe for the eye area as well? And I could use this in the shower just like you, and once cleansed everything, proceed with shampoo-ing like I regularly do, yes?
Yes to everything you said. I don’t use any additional eye makeup removal methods beyond this. I prefer to wash my hair first and do the OCM at the end of my shower, but that is just my preference. Good luck!
Thank you so much for replying back! Okay, I remember now that I had one more question. Is this okay to use every night? I hear many people say that doing this every other night seems to be the best. I don’t mind that except that I wear makeup almost everyday so I don’t know what to replace the OCM with on days that I don’t do it. I don’t want to go back and forth between natural cleanser and an over the counter product because I feel like that would just confuse and overwhelm my skin. Also, (I guess I had two questions after all) what is your opinion on coconut oil? Originally, I was going to just use 100% coconut oil or possibly part coconut and part grapeseed but I heard it can clog pores?? And is it really necessary to blend oils or can I just use one carrier like jojoba oil? I have a combination of oily acne prone redness sensitive skin, so if I had to blend, I was thinking of jojoba and grapeseed with few drops of lavender. As for castor oil, I’m not scared of the drying out part, but it seemed kind of too strong for my sensitive skin. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Love love love this post! Again, thanks!
I just came across your blog today and I love it! I once cleansed my face with the OCM and loved it, I actually don’t remember why I stopped! My face is in such terrible shape (my entire chin and jaw is a red connect-the-dots) right now and I am only using “natural” products. Could you help me with a formulation that might set me straight?! I have mildly sensitive skin with a very oily T-zone and forehead. I have only a few dry spots on my face but it is mostly during the winter time. Plus, my husband would much prefer a more natural routine because he detests the smell of the raw ACV toner!!! I would appreciate any advice you could give me – I am using way too much cover-up at the moment =/
Oh thank you Renee! I would use plenty of Melaleuca and ylang ylang for your breakouts. I would also try to use a carrier oil more geared towards oily/acne skin. Check out the tables in this post and substitute the ingredients I use in my recipe. Natural skin care really is just trial and error since nobody’s skin is the same. Thanks for reading!
I’m on day 3 of trying out oil cleansing and so far so good! I’m using a mixture of roughly 75% jojoba oil, 25% castor oil, and a few drops of lavender and tea tree oil. I love how my skin feels and smells after! I was surprised at how clean my skins feels-no residue or makeup left behind. I can’t wait to experiment with different essential oils. Thanks for the tips!! Love your blog!
Oh thank you so much Marie! I’m so glad it’s working well for you!
Quick question, I’m new to this. Is it okay to so this in the morning & the evening? I love how my skin feels in the evening, I use coconut oil, it makes my skin soft. I have not been doing this in the morning & my skin seems dry. Is it ok to use this method twice a day?
I think most people don’t. I don’t in the morning simply because of the time it takes, but I can’t see how it would hurt. If you love how it makes your skin feel and have the time, I say give it a try for a couple weeks. Be sure to come back and let me know how it goes. Thanks so much for reading!
I’ve wanted to try the oil cleansing method, but my skin is so finnicky that it’s never seemed likely to work and still achieve all that I need it to do. I’m 23. I have pretty bad acne (hormonal & cystic acne) and I also have combination skin- but when it’s oily, it’s oily! But cleansers that keep the oil at bay make my face feel dry and uncomfortable and begin to flake. I’m also concerned about wrinkles, elasticity and spots, and I don’t think any commercial acne cleansers are doing anything to protect me from that. I’d love to be able to go makeup-free one day (when the zits are gone) but until then I also need something that will clean away all the makeup, including around my eyes, which have mild dark circles and lines forming.
There doesn’t seem to be any combination that will hit all these points. Help!??
Well, first let me say thank you for reading. I think you would really benefit from oil cleansing because you say you’re skin is so oily. I would say the first thing we want to concentrate on correcting is the excessive oiliness and acne, right? Let’s get that under control first then we can always add more essential oils for wrinkles, etc. I would start with this recipe: 80 ml castor oil, 70 ml apricot kernel oil, 70 ml grapeseed oil, 20 ml argan oil, 10 drops each of Melaleuca, ylang ylang and Geranium essential oils. If you still feel too oily after using this combo for two weeks, then add another 20 ml of castor oil and 10 drops Melaleuca. It will probably take 6-8 weeks of consistent use to see an improvement in your acne and it could possibly get worse before it gets better. That is your skin purging all the impurities. After we get your acne under control, I would start adding 15-20 drops of Helichrysm essential oil for wrinkles and dark spots/scars. I hope this helps and feel free to come back with more questions if you still have issues.
Thanks, that really is helpful. One thing I’m a little confused about is that I had heard that castor oil is quite comedogenic (pore-clogging) so it surprises me that it would still be effective for use against acne. Another thing that comes to mind is that I’m pretty new to this whole “natural/real food lifestyle” thing and so I’m concerned that until I get my diet and lifestyle under control my skin will still be flushing a lot of toxins from my body and oil cleaning might make that worse. I could be totally wrong, of course.
I really appreciate your reply. You must be so busy, so that’s really what I’d call excellent customer service!
I have not ever read that about castor oil. It is very potent at cleansing, but also very drying. Use it sparingly and never by itself. Confession: I don’t eat super clean. It’s terrible, I know. In fact, it was my goal to start that as my new year’s resolution this year. BUT, then I got pregnant in November and my food choices went right out the window. Baby had very specific ideas about what it likes and doesn’t like. Now that I’m through the first trimester, I hope to get back on track with eating better and hopefully less food aversions. But have to say, my skin had never looked better than since I started oil cleansing back in November 2013, easy before I even thought to try eating clean. All that to say, I definitely think eating clean will help your skin too, but don’t let that lack keep you from starting oil cleansing. Less toxins on your face means less toxins for your body to flush, period. Thanks so much for reading.
I love this article! I am very firm believer in oils and all things natural. I have s couple questions though, hopefully they aren’t repeat questions or silly. :) Does the oil cleansing remove makeup or is there something you need to do prior to remove it? Also, I have a facial sauna (steamer) that I use each night. How could I incorporate this into the routine you mentioned? Put the oils on and steam my face with my sauna and then gently wipe off or wipe off and then use the steamer? Hope my questions make sense. Thank you!!
Thanks Renee! This will definitely remove makeup just as good as traditional makeup removers, but with the bonus of being natural oils rather than mineral oil or petroleum based products. As for the sauna, I can honestly say I’ve never heard of one, much less used it. I would say try it either way and see which way works best for you. I’m a firm believer in experimenting. Sorry I don’t have experience with thay to better help you. Thanks so much for commenting!
Hi there, and thanks for the chart.
I went to walmart and all I could get were: castor oil, avocado oil, argan oil, and tea tree oil.
Current having ~45% castor oil with 50% avocado oil + bits of argan and some drops of tea tree.
I massaged the oil onto my face for like 1 mins then steam for about 3 mins or so and then finally wipe my face with a wet cool washcloth. After that I take a shower.
After the shower my face feel ok, may be a bit dry. So should I not take a shower afterward? and may be less castor oil?
Thanks for your time
A lot less castor oil- no more than 30%. I would do that whole routine in the shower. I only use about 20% castor oil and I still put rosehip seed oil on my face after my shower as a moisturizer. But I have extrememly dry skin.
Hello!
This looks super interesting! I’ve been oil cleansing for about a year now with just straight coconut oil, and I’m loving it! I used to have the worst acne and my skin was always oily and gross! After oil cleansing, it’s clear and smooth and I’m not afraid to skip the makeup on some days! Do you think mixing castor oil with the coconut oil would be too drying? I’m keeping the castor oil at 10%.
I love your blog! Thanks!
Hi Kaitlyn! Honestly if straight coconut oil is working for you, you probably don’t need to add castor oil. I would just consider adding some essential oils for any minor skin issues you want to work on, like Helichrysum for dark spots or wrinkles, frankincense for spider veins or melaleuca for the occasional blemish. It’s so awesome you found something that works for you! Thanks so much for the blog love!
I have dry skin and I used almond oil with aloe vera for a while. It didn’t do everything I wanted, but I felt that it helped. Thank you for the tips!!
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If almond oil wasn’t moisturizing enough, I would recommend you try Avocado and rose hip seed oil next. I combine all three frequently if I am feeling a little extra dry. Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve never tried an oil cleanser, but it sounds like something I would like to try one day. Happy SITS Day!!!
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It is the BEST Sonya!
Okay, you sold me on this post. SO much good information. Can’t wait to start following your blog!
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Thank you so much! {BLUSHING} I am so hapy to have helped!
I have sensitive, combination oily and acne prone skin and have tried a lot of things. Proactiv worked for a time but always made my skin very dry even after applying the heavy moisturizer after the regimen. And recently has not seem to be working at all.
When I started looking for a new skincare regimen I found your article via Pinterest. All of my oils arrive tomorrow and I am interested to see what the next few weeks hold in terms of results
Oh my goodness that is SO Exciting Kyra! The OCM is really perfect for folks with oily/acne prone skin. Feel free to ask about any recipe questions you might have. Overall, I would just recommend being patient and giving it time to work. It will take your skin about a month to completely adjust to not being in the cleanser-stripped and oil over-producing cycle. A big part of that cycle might even be increased breakouts for a time. But stick with it and don’t be afraid to dab a little extra melaleuca on blemishes after your cleansing routine. I really am so excited for you! Please come back and tell me about your progress!
Hi Cajun! I have a question about how many essential oils you can add to a mix. For example, does it make sense to add more than three or should you only do a few, at most? Does it matter? Thanks!
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I don;t really think it matters, but at some point you might be just diluting the power of all of them. I would pick three at most probably and add any remaining you want to your moisturizer.
Hello!
So Your articles are very interesting! I’m going to try some of the recipes and see what works. However what’s the difference between a facial toner and oil cleansing (besides different ingredients)? Do you need to use both? And in what order? Makeup, facial cleanser etc has never been my cup of tea (in fact it frustrates me!). My skin is truly awful and I’m usually hesitant to try new things because it never goes well. Even though what I use isn’t that great either…. Hopefully what I’m writing is clear.
Thank you!
Sincerely Rachel
Thanks Rachel! You would use a toner after your cleansing method, then your moisturizer. I typically don’t use a toner in the winter when I am oil cleansing, but in the summer when I am using a regular cleanser.
Thanks for the post! Could you write out your recipe like a formula so it’s easier for me to plug in the carrier oil and essential oil that works for me?
Hi Tanya, I’m not really sure what you mean by a formula. The recipe I provided is as clear as I can make it. You just dump each ingredient into a graduated cylinder by mL and substitute ingredients as you see fit.
So I still have acne at 27 and I have been using the OCM for awhile. But the premade oil cleanser from Origins. My face is oily but if I strip it too much, it becomes dry and feels stretched. I’d like to start making my own but don’t know where to start.. :)
Hi Kelly! I have not used the Origins oil before. I would recommend taking a loot at the ingredients on the bottle and using my chart to figure out which ingredients you want to keep and which ones you think need to be added for your acne. I am so happy with the results I get from melaleuca.
I may sound silly but the charts confuse me a little bit! Do you have any suggestions for combination skin? Oily T-Zone and dry cheeks? My “oily-ness” usually stems from not enough moisture though..
I think apricot kernel oil is great for Combination skin. I have dry cheeks too but rarely need any extra moisture on my forehead. I wouldn’t say it’s oily, but it definitely doesn’t need the extra moisture my cheeks and eyes do. I would try using apricot kernel oil as your base carrier oil and if you find you still need moisture on your cheeks only, you can use argan oil as a moisturizer on the dry areas. That would be my suggestion since I’ve never met you.
Thanks for all the info and charts! Why do you mix so many carrier oils and essential oils together? My skin is normally oily in the summer, dry in the winter and I usually have acne all year round. Wouldn’t I just use apricot oil mixed with lavender?
Hi Lynn, Mostly because I have multiple issues I want to treat. Dry skin, hormonal acne, wrinkle prevention, dark spot correction. That’s the beauty of OCM. Being able to completely customize to YOUR needs!
Huh, I’ve never really thought about making my own facial cleanser that is tailored specifically to my skin, or cleaning with oil for that atter, but this sounds great! I want to try experimenting with this over the winter. I have terrible dark circles under my eyes (they are always there)–do you think the oils for dark spots will help?
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Absolutely! I know that Helichrysm works because it has done so much for mine. It is a pricey oil but OMG priceless in my book!
I have only used a couple of essential oils. I would love to try more someday. Thanks so much for sharing what you have learned.
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Thank you Michelle! I hope it will help you!
This is such a helpful post! I love how you separated everything in a chart:) I need to use more all natural skin care products.
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OMG I <3 Charts! :)
Hi Cajun – loving your DIY beauty recipes. I am addicted to your toner and your eye cream is heavenly. Keep them coming! I’m just getting started with EOs and am so impressed with the endless possibilities. I am working on some personalized blends to help with my hormonal acne and the unfortunate dark spots it’s left behind, so this great! I have been using Helichrysum and am amazed with its healing properties. I feel I need to give it some time before I see dark spots fade though, which makes sense. I actually purchase my oils via NAN and have stumbled upon a few others I plan on experimenting with, including Neroli, Galbanum and Rose Geranium to find my perfect spot treatment blends and healing blends. Do you know much about these EOs? Also what are your thoughts about argan oil as a carrier oil? Keep it u!!!
That’s great Laura. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement! I love Argan Oil and use it a my face moisturizer in the summer time. Time will tell if it will be moisturizing enough for winter. As for the oils you asked about, I have not ever used Neroli or Galbanum and I don’t know much about either of them, so I can;t really help you there. I have used Geranium in skin care products and honestly I couldn’t stand the overly floral smell long enough to see any results. I threw out a whole bottle of oils I had mixed up because the Geranium drove me crazy! Let me know if you see any results from Geranium. :)
I never really thought about using it for scars. I have a nasty scar that I would love to make fade. Naturally, the helichrysum is on that list! ha. I need to get on that train!
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YES! Heli is the best!
I’d love to try to mix some up and try it sometime. This is will be a great resource for when I try it. Thanks!
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Thanks Theresa!
Love this post! I recently found a post you did about essential oils on Pinterest and have since purchased them. I will try out this recipe on my teen daughter-she has that 10 day window of acne breakouts and is so subconscious about it. Hope this helps! Keep posting-they are great and informative reads!
Thank you Lia! I would add melaleuca to your daughter’s mixture.. It is great for acne of all kinds. I just happen to have super dry skin, so I try to only use it as a spot treatment.
I love your site!!! I am currently trying your facial cleanser (am seem to like it) but would really like to try this as well… I have an oily face by nature but also hormonal acne for about 10 days a month. Wondering what oils and Recipe I should try.
Hi Tasha. Thanks! Start with my recipe and modify it a little. I would definitely keep the ylang ylang in the mix for the hormonal acne. Then substitute the helichrysum with melaleuca. As for the carrier oils, I would substitute the avocado for grapeseed oil. If you still feel oily after a couple weeks of using that receipe, add another 25 mL of castor oil. Just be careful because castor oil is VERY drying.
Thank you I will try this soon!!!
I have really Oily skin and hair. What would you recommend for a moisturizer? I have tried Argan Oil but I think it makes me more oily. I have heard some things about Neem oil, but before I try something new, I thought I would ask your opinion on oily skin. Also oily hair. I use sulfate and paraben free shampoo and after like 3 washes it leaves my hair extremely oily! Help!
Well I don’t have oily skin but I heard neem oil is very good.
thank you
This sounds amazing, and so good for your skin! You should sell small bottles of these face oils.. so I could buy it, instead of making it, you know.. since I am beyond lazy. ;)
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Well, I know how you feel. I am too lazy to start a shop and sell this stuff. I believe Crunchy Betty does sell certain formulas, but obviously, she doesn’t prepare a completely customized formula. I think she just does sets for oily, normal and dry skin. I’m high maitenance, so I need stuff completely customized to me!